Softball Opens Fall Exhibition Season Wednesday
9/22/2015 9:38:00 PM | Softball
TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa softball team opens its fall exhibition season Wednesday at the Collins Family Softball Complex, playing host to Crowder College at 5:30 p.m. in the first of eight scheduled games through mid-October.
Following Wednesday's contest, the Golden Hurricane travels to Wichita, Kan., for two games on Saturday, facing Wichita State and Creighton.
Tulsa returns 11 players, including seven starters and two pitchers to the squad in 2016. Returning seniors include outfielder Jodi Edmiston, catcher Catherine Horner, pitcher Caitlin Sill and infielders Kaitlin Allen and Jocelyn Sheffield. Returning juniors include third baseman Maggie Withee and outfielders Brittany Walker and Maddie Withee. Returning sophomores include shortstop Shelby Estocado and pitcher Emily Watson.
Maddie Withee was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2015 after hitting .323 with 22 RBI and 19 runs, including a .360 batting average in league play. Walker led the Hurricane with a .364 batting average, adding 26 RBI and 25 runs, while Maggie Withee hit .313 and scored 38 runs. Edmiston batted .312 with 23 RBI and 26 runs, Estocado hit .272 with 31 RBI, 28 runs and six home runs, Allen hit .280, and Horner hit .267, while leading the returners with 18 extra base hits.
Sill led the pitching staff with a 2.21 ERA, 11 complete games, six shutouts, and allowed 42 earned runs with 80 strikeouts and 117 hits in 133.0 innings, despite posting a 10-11 record. Watson went 8-4 with a 2.37 ERA, seven complete games, four shutouts and 76 strikeouts in 88.2 innings.
TU also welcomed seven freshmen: pitcher Ellie Reaves, catcher Rylie Spell, infielders Morgan Neal and Tori Stafford, and outfielders Julia Hollingsworth, Ashley Kiser and Lauren Lomax.
The Hurricane returns to home Oct. 2 to face Butler Community College at 5 p.m. at the Collins Family Softball Complex. TU plays host to Seminole State at 5 p.m. Oct. 9, Rogers State at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at 5 p.m. Oct. 16, and concludes the exhibition schedule against Labette Community College at noon Oct. 17.
For the full fall exhibition schedule, click here.
Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa Softball on Twitter (www.twitter.com/TulsaSoftball) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/TulsaSoftball).
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